Modi congratulates Imran on election victory
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated PTI chairman Imran Khan for his party's victory in the parliamentary elections, Geo reported.
According to sources, Modi made a telephone call to Imran Khan and congratulated him for his victory in the elections.
"We are ready to enter a new era of relations with Pakistan," Modi said, according to a PTI press release.
Modi said both the countries should adopt a joint strategy for progress in bilateral ties.
The PTI chairman thanked the Indian prime minister for his good wishes, the statement said.
"The solution to conflicts should be found through dialogue," Khan was quoted as telling Modi.
"Instead of answers to conflicts, wars and bloodbath give birth to tragedies," the PTI chief said, according to the press release.
Khan said the two governments should devise a joint plan of action to free people of both countries from the cruel trap of poverty.
Indian External Affairs Ministry also issued a statement about Modi's call to Imran Khan.
"Prime Minister spoke to Mr Imran Khan, Chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections," it said.
"Prime Minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan. Prime Minister also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighborhood."
Modi's call came four days after Imran Khan claimed victory in the elections and urged India to resume peace process with Pakistan.
"If India takes one step forward, we will take two," Khan said, urging the neighboring country to resolve the core issue of Kashmir through dialogue.
On India, he said: "I was saddened in the last few days, how the media in India portrayed me as a Bollywood film villain. It seemed like India feared everything bad would happen if Imran Khan came into power. I am the Pakistani who has the most familiarity with India, I have been all over that country.
"I think it will be very good for all of us if we have good relations with India. We need to have trade ties, and the more we will trade, both countries will benefit. The unfortunate truth is that Kashmir is a core issue, and the situation in Kashmir, and what the people of Kashmir have seen in the last 30 years they have really suffered.
"Pakistan and India's leadership should sit at a table and try to fix this problem. It's not going anywhere.
"We are at square one right now [with India]. If India's leadership is ready, we are ready to improve ties with India. If you step forward one step, we will take two steps forward.
"I say this with conviction, this will be the most important thing for the subcontient, for both countries to have a friendship."
Source: The News International
